Rudy Owens says foot pain doesn’t affect pitching

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The stress fracture in Rudy Owens’ left foot wasn’t affecting his pitching last year, he said. He still isn’t sure how it happened.

“Even when I first stated feeling it, it never hurt when I pitched — only when I’d run,” Owens said. “I tell people I was in the rodeo and I got stepped on by a bull. Other than that I don’t know, it just happened, I guess stress fracture.”

Owens went for the surgery anyway because it was getting worse. It was hurting him constantly, and he figured he wouldn’t get called up if it was broken.

“Once I figured that out, I was like might as well get the surgery,” Owens said. “Cause I’m not going to make any progress.”

Back in major league camp and hopeful to win a job, the 26-year-old lefthanded starter said there’s no issue for him now when he’s pitching, either.

Running and walking are a different story.

“Foot’s good,” Owens said. “I mean, it’s getting there. It gets sore sometimes when I run. I take a few days off of running and it feels good again. So I mean, it’s just up and down with the soreness. But pitching wise, there’s no pain.”

He’s optimistic that the running pain will eventually subside.

“I hope so,” Owens said. “I hope I don’t have to deal with this for the rest of my career. I’m sure it does (get better), it’s just getting used to running again. Running and walking.”

For Owens’ first couple months of rehab, he couldn’t walk on the foot. Roughly, he did crutches for nine weeks and a walking boot for another six weeks before he could start walking fully. He started throwing again mid-summer.

Owens posted a 3.48 ERA in Class AAA in 2012, between the Pirates’ and Astros’ affiliates. He was part of the Wandy Rodriguez deal that July. A 26th round pick in 2008 by the Pirates, Owens struck out 108 and walked just 39 in 163 innings in ’12. He made four appearances in 2013 at Oklahoma City.

His goal is like everyone else’s this spring: win a job.

“I came here to ready go and I got to show ‘em what I can do,” Owens said.